Decker takes witness stand, denies hitting Wawa clerk

MEDIA COURTHOUSE - Fired Ridley Township policeman Brian Decker Friday denied he punched a Wawa employee, stating he put up his arms to protect himself and push her away.

He told the court that when Monique Bronson, 43, continued coming at him, he then tried to take her down to the ground as he was trained to do.

Decker, who was off-duty at the time, denied socking Bronson as she said he did after a disagreement in the Morton Avenue store over her carding him when he made a purchase of chewing tobacco last Dec. 15.

"I protected myself," said the 34-year-old Decker. "I never punched her on the left side of her face."

Advertisement

He quoted her at one point while they were in the back of the store as telling him that he's "a little boy with a badge." He said that when she then came within inches of his face, he put up his hands to push her away.

"She came right back at me. Her hands were up. There was yelling and screaming," he said and the "F-word was flying." He testified that all he did was try to grab her arms to bring her to the ground "to control her."

Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Wills in cross examination questioned Decker as to why other witnesses including Megan Carney, another Wawa employee, and Robin Hays, a customer who were in the store that day, corroborated Bronson's statement that he socked her.

"They just testified to something they testified to. And I'm testifying to what I'm testifying to," he replied. "I'm under oath. I'm telling the truth."

Decker, 34, calmly told about the events that he said occurred at that Wawa, where he had frequented since he was a child growing up in the township.

Following his testimony, defense attorney John List presented 25 witnesses, who crowded the defendant's side of the courtroom - many of whom were fellow officers -- to attest to Decker's good character.

Decker will receive a written verdict from Judge Patricia Jenkins, who is sitting without a jury, within seven days. He is facing charges of simple assault and harassment in the incident which has cost him the job he held for eight years.

He said that Bronson had asked for his identification several times in the past when he purchased tobacco products, and when she did it again on Dec. 15, he replied "this is ridiculous...I don't know what your problem is...You don't like me. I guess I don't like you."

Decker said he pulled out his identification and put it right at her face, as the surveillance video showed. "Here's my license. I'm 33 years old," he said he told her.

She then asked him to leave the store and he suggested quietly "let's go somewhere to talk about it ... let's resolve it." They then moved to a back area out of the camera's view.

At that point he said things started to deteriorate and "she was cursing and I was cursing ... I know there were `F' words flying," he told the court.

He said after they got to the back, it was at that point that she turned quickly and was within inches of his face and he had to move back.

"What were you thinking?" asked defense attorney John List.

"I have to protect myself," replied Decker. He said he grabbed for Bronson's hands "trying to get control of her." He said as a police officer he was trying to bring her to the ground, but she continued flailing and at that point the other employee, Megan Carney grabbed him.

He said he did not see Hays in the back area until everything was calmed down. He also denied warning Hays outside the store that she better not get involved, as she testified he did.

Also Friday Dr. James Bonner took the stand as an expert for the defense. He said he would have expected to see significant cuts and bruises on Bronson's face if she had been repeatedly punched by Decker in the manner she described.

He said from pictures and records, he did not see any major injuries on Bronson's face. She was treated at the hospital for contusions to her left cheek, according to testimony.

Also Friday, Ridley Township Lt. Scott Willoughby said that when he arrived at the Wawa Store after a 911 disturbance call, he saw Megan Carney.

Willoughby described Carney as being "extremely extremely excited." He quoted Carney as stating: "I knew this was gong to happen. She (Bronson) hates his (Decker's) guts."

Carney while on the stand earlier was asked by List if she ever made such as statement to Willoughby or to a defense investigator as they testified she did in separate interviews. She denied it.